Sharjah gears up for top ME auto show

Sharjah, October 13, 2013

Expo Centre Sharjah will be organising the fourth successive edition of the Middle East Motor Awards (MEMA), one of the biggest annual automotive awards, this month.

The gala award ceremony, being hosted by Al Majaz Waterfront and Emirates Islamic Bank, will be held at the Al Majaz Waterfront Sharjah on October 29.

For the first time ever, the awards will be held at an outdoor public venue, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see all the shortlisted displayed on one platform from October 29 till November 1, said the organisers.

Mohammed Fadhil Al Mazroui, Al Majaz Waterfront manager, said: “We are both pleased and honored to be welcoming this prestigious event. Al Majaz Waterfront has become one of the premier outdoor leisure destinations in the region and we look forward to sharing this truly exceptional experience with tourists and residents of Sharjah.”

Expo Centre Sharjah CEO Saif Mohammed Al Midfa said Mema was the most prestigious award of its kind and its results were much awaited by buyers of new vehicles in the region every year.

"We wanted our visitors to see all of the best cars displayed on one independent platform instead of having to go around various showrooms in far off locations, we therefore chose Al Majaz Waterfront as our first outdoor venue as it is easily accessible and has world class facilities," remarked Al Midfa.

As the main sponsor of the awards, Emirates Islamic Bank said it aims to acknowledge the leading car manufacturers in the region and provide a high level of financial expertise to the automotive industry.

“As a leader in providing Shari’a compliant auto financing products, this event gives us a fantastic opportunity to share our expertise and further develop our relationships with the most respected car manufacturers across the region,” stated Faisal Aqil, the deputy CEO (Consumer Wealth Management) EIB.

The award ceremony is being held under the patronage of Dr Mohammad Ben Sulayem, VP of FIA Middle East and president of ATC UAE, for the fourth consecutive year.

"The event consistently captures the imagination of all those involved in the Middle East automotive industry and is a celebration of emerging automotive technologies. Since its inaugural edition three years ago, the awards have been a highlight of the motor trade calendar and I look forward to its continued success." said Dr Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The award nominations are based on various criterias such as performance, design, handling and value-for-money, among others, and were assessed over a period of nearly seven months by a jury consisting of expert automotive journalists from ten countries region wide, including Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

“The Mema awards are truly the most credible and sought after automotive accolades in the region, gaining the respect of the automotive industry and the general public, due mainly to the integrity and transparency of the nominations and voting proceedings," said jury member, Mohd Zaro, motoring editor, Al Sayyarat, Jordan.

"I truly enjoy being part of this jury that features a group of the finest automotive minds in the Middle East," he added.

The regional auto industry is growing at a steady pace with almost all manufacturers introducing brand new and updated models every year and an award like the Mema, the participants believe, will help highlight the best of the lot, and in the process assist consumers in choosing the right vehicle according to their requirements.

Toyota Motor (Mena) chief representative Nobuyuki Negishi said: “With 5 nominations at this year’s Mema - beginning with the Lexus range-ES350, LS460, LS460 F Sport - in addition to two models from the Toyota Range with the Rav 4 and Toyota Avalon, Toyota is once again demonstrating its widespread appeal and industry leadership with vehicles that showcase our focus on providing consumers with exciting products backed by a more expressive and bolder design direction, dynamic performance and innovative technology to exceed consumer expectations.”

Robin Colgan, the managing director, Jaguar Land Rover, Mena said the company has had a long-standing and successful presence across the region for many years.

"We now operate in 18 markets across the region and to have the all-new Range Rover and Jaguar F-TYPE nominated is both an honour and a testament to our continued commitment in providing vehicles that are not only innovative and seductive but are also dynamic in their performance," he noted.

"Both models short listed at the Middle East Motoring Awards are part of Jaguar Land Rover’s strongest and most comprehensive line-up of vehicles to date," he added.-TradeArabia News Service